Hen ate her 1st egg, can I retrain her?

[Sinadrea]

That's a cute

I would cut out the scratch and soldier fly larvae as all the extras may be reducing the amount of protein they're getting as layer feed often has the absolute bare minimum amount of protein. While it's not the issue here I think (again, I am pretty sure your pullet just had a thin shelled egg that broke when she laid it) too little protein can be a major cause of egg eating. That is one reason why many of us feed all flock rather than layer feed as it usually has 20% protein rather than the 16% layer usually has

I actually didn't know to

I would cut out the scratch and soldier fly larvae as all the extras may be reducing the amount of protein they're getting as layer feed often has the absolute bare minimum amount of protein. While it's not the issue here I think (again, I am pretty sure your pullet just had a thin shelled egg that broke when she laid it) too little protein can be a major cause of egg eating. That is one reason why many of us feed all flock rather than layer feed as it usually has 20% protein rather than the 16% layer usually has

I will get some all flock once I go back into town, it will probably be better for my rooster anyways, I appreciate the advice.

 

[Sinadrea]

I actually didn't know to

I will get some all flock once I go back into town, it will probably be better for my rooster anyways, I appreciate the advice.

And sorry about the text hiccups, I'm still learning how to use the interface.

 

[Sinadrea]

That's a cute name

Agreed!

 

[FrostRanger]

I actually didn't know to

I will get some all flock once I go back into town, it will probably be better for my rooster anyways, I appreciate the advice.

If you have a rooster you definitely don't want to feed layer feed as the extra calcium is bad for him and any other bird not laying. As long as you have oyster shell available your layers will be fine

 

[Sinadrea]

If you have a rooster you definitely don't want to feed layer feed as the extra calcium is bad for him and any other bird not laying. As long as you have oyster shell available your layers will be fine

Is it okay if Roo gets into the oyster shells every once in a while? I leave some in a big bowl for them.

 

[FrostRanger]

Is it okay if Roo gets into the oyster shells every once in a while? I leave some in a big bowl for them.

Yep, totally fine, he may eat some if he needs a little extra calcium but he won't overeat it

 

[Ridgerunner]

To me an egg eater is a chicken that purposely opens and egg to eat it. I've had one and I ate her.

It is fairly normal for a chicken to eat an egg that is already opened. I do not consider that an egg eater, just a chicken taking advantage of available nutrition. It is not always obvious what is going on.

I think mine learned to eat eggs when another pullet just starting to lay was dropping thin-shelled eggs from the roost before daylight and they were cracking when they hit. Others would help her clean up those eggs but she was the only one that learned to open them.

I don't know what is going on with your pullet. I would not panic yet but I'd pay attention to what is going on and see if I could figure it out.

Good luck!